Amazing Italy With Island Trader

Italy is known for its history but most of all, its romance. Dating back thousands of years in time, the city of Venice evokes images of two people in love, reclined comfortably in the back of a riverboat as the guide pushes them along the mighty river, singing a song.

Whether you are there for the romance or the history, there is rarely a visitor who can make it only once. Filled with hundreds of places to see and things to do, this “City of Canals” is one of the top destinations for travel in the world today.

City of Bridges

Nicknamed the City of Bridges, millions of visitor enjoy seeing Italy's most popular and historic attractions, many of which are bridges. Home to over 400 bridges, many date back to the beginning of the city, thousands of years ago and tell a story all by themselves.

Of the many bridges, there are some which are simply the best of the best for visitors, one of which is known as the Bridge of Sighs. An enclosed bridge, the Bridge of Sighs is made up of white limestone and dates back to 1602. Designed by Antoni Contino, nephew of the designer of the Rialto Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs is the most famous of all bridges in Italy today. Spanning the Rio di Palazzo or the Palace River, the bridge was built to connect the interrogation rooms of the Doge's Palace to the New Prison on the other side of the river.

Though no concrete evidence exists as to how the bridge got its name, the theories range from the prisoners on their way to the executioner to a lovers kiss. For most, the latter is by far the most popular as many today believe that if a couple kisses under the bridge at sunset even today, they will enjoy eternal love. Stretching 36 feet across the canal, the bridge is decorated with sculptures is one of the most popular sites in all of Venice today.

Island Trader Vacations invites you to explore other amazing cities, top attractions and great tips to help you travel. From the U.S. to around the world, let Island Trader Vacations help you and start exploring the world today.

Beautiful Verona

Verona is located in northern Italy. It is the second largest city of the region, and the third largest in northern Italy. It sits on the Adige River and is a popular tourist destination and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized so because of its urban structure and its architecture.The city can be a popular destination for travel no matter the time of year. The summers here are hot with a humid subtropical climate and the winters are cool and also humid. During the winter months the humidity is still high in the results in a dense fog from dusk until the late morning. The fog is unique to see as it rolls through this beautiful interesting city.

The city’s golden age was during the 13th and 14th centuries, and much of the architecture is from that time period. Verona is of course is associated with three of Shakespeare’s plays, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Taming of the Shrew, and Romeo and Juliet. The play of Romeo and Juliet was based off the family feuds that took place under the rule of the della Scalla during the golden age of the city. One of the most popular destinations to visit in the city is Juliet’s House. It is located along the Via Mazzani and the Via Cappello. The main entrance to the house is covered with the graffiti of lovers that have visited the site over the years.

The city of Verona was once Roman and still bears some of the architecture. Just down the street from Juliet’s House is one of the original gates to Roman Verona, Porta Leoni. The other Roman city gate also still stands north of the Roman arena. To experience the culture of the city visit the city center. The Piazza delle Erbe is a lively square with beautiful pink marble palaces and is filled with market stalls to peruse for keepsakes of your trip here.

Visit The Great Ocean Road

Along the Great Ocean Road in Australia lies an area known as Port Campbell. A coastal town, Port Campbell is known for having some of the Great Ocean Roads most well known and popular destinations including the infamous 12 Apostles. Home to just around 600 people, this small town has a history that dates back to the 1870s. Today, Port Campbell is a popular destination for those visiting the 12 Apostles and other world famous attractions including Port Campbell National Park.

12 Apostles – Just one of the many sites near Port Campbell, this famous site is actually a collection of limestone stacks off shore of Port Campbell. Formed by erosion and harsh weather, the stacks were carved from the cliffs over time. Known as the Sow and Piglets until 1922, it was renamed the Apostles to help promote tourism. Once 9 formations, in 2002, one of the stacks collapsed leaving 8 still remaining.

Shipwrecks and Lighthouses in the area offer a number of other popular places to explore. The Shipwreck Discovery Trail allows visitors to dive and see many shipwrecks on the trail including the wreck of the SS Casino. Lighthouse along the road also offer an enjoyable way to learn the history of the area including a number of historic lighthouses from Lady Bay Rarnambool and Split Point Lighthouse and many more.

Coastal attractions nearby the Apostles include:

Gibson Steps

The Grotto

The Arch

London Bridge

Loch and Gorge

Bay of Martyrs

Bay of Islands

Port Campbell National Park – World famous for the 12 Apostles, other features including those natural features listed above also are a focus for millions of visitors annually. Visitors enjoy birdwatching, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, swimming, tours and hiking.

Known for its stunning natural beauty, this coastal seaside area ranks as one of the top destinations in Australia and the Great Ocean Road as well.

Whether visiting historic sites, natural areas or just enjoying shopping, dining or the culture of the area, make the most of your time and money by researching your destination before you go.

Island Trader Vacations invites you to spend time learning more about other top destinations with us.

Historic Turkey With Island Trader

Pamukkale means cotton castle in Turkish. It is located in the Denizili Province in the southwest of Turkey in the Inner Aegean region located in the River Menderes valley. It is a natural site that is travertine’s, natural hot springs, and terraces that have been formed by the carbonate rich minerals from the water that once flowed over it. Pamukkale is a wonderful place to visit no matter the time of year because it maintains a mild climate no matter the season.

The white castle is where the Byzantine city of Hierapolis sat atop. This ancient Greco-Roman and Byzantine city is nearly 9,000 feet long and almost 2,000 feet at its widest point and stands just over 500 feet high. From its seat on top of Pamukkale it can be seen all the way from the hills of the valley opposite it and even from the town of Denizili which is just over 12 miles away.

One of the major draws of tourists to the area is bathing in the pools that have been located here for thousands of years and were once the Roman baths of the ancient city. Sadly with the boom of tourism there were many hotels that were built over the ruins of Hierapolis and this caused considerable damage. To prevent further damage to the area after it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site the hotels were torn down and access to the road that approaches was denied by motorbike. The area was then rebuilt with artificial pools. To protect the natural deposits of element that are in the natural pools the wearing of shoes in the water is strictly prohibited. There are 17 hot water springs with temperatures that range from 95 °F to 212 °F. The water from the springs travels down the travertine terraces of the white palace and are filled with deposits of calcium carbonate. When this completely hardens it becomes a layer over the travertine. This is why Pamukkale is called the white palace the calcium carbonate leaves a layer of white over the travertine it travels coating it with up to 1 mm causing the area to have a white finish hence moniker the white palace.

Tasmania

Hobart is the capital of Tasmania, an Australian island state. It is located on the south east of the island on the bay if the Derwent River. The city is the home port for Australian and French Antarctic operations. The city prides itself on its sustainability of both economic and social innovation. The city takes pride in their arts, food and scenery.

 One of the best ways to explore the city is simply on foot. This scenic capital was founded as a penal colony in 1804 and is ripe with history. The Tasman Bridge is a beautiful sight to behold as it connects the two shores of the city. The Hobart Synagogue is a built in the Egyptian Revival style and is the oldest synagogue in all of Australia. Explore the Salamanca Market to get a feel for the local culture, and view the beautiful sandstone buildings in cobblestoned Salamanca Place as well as the many Georgian structures of the city. Salamanca Place is also the go to place to experience the nightlife of this city. There are many popular bars, restaurants, and nightclubs situated here. It is located along the waterfront of the city and is home to many ethnic restaurants as well as some of the freshest local seafood cafeterias If you want to explore the city a bit more, travel to Elizabeth Street that is located in North Hobart, for a bite to eat, the dining options are plentiful.

Go explore the amazing scenery of the city and its surrounding areas. If you climb Mount Wellington, which the city sits at the base of, you will be privy to some of the most amazing views of the city and the river. If you want to taste some of the regions wines travel to Coal Valley, it’s a beautiful trek past forested areas and farmland, quaint a picturesque. Or explore a little south of the city to Bruny Island. The island is full of barren beaches and striking, dramatic cliff tops that you can look into the roiling water from above. If you are more in the mood for a slower stroll visit the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. It’s a short trip from the city and is the 2nd oldest Botanic Gardens in Australia. The city and surrounding area is ripe for exploring no matter what you choose your speed to be.

Kiev

Kiev is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe. It is the capital and the largest city in Ukraine. The city is surrounded by the Dnieper River, which flows on both sides of the town and empties into the Black Sea. The city is believed to have been founded in the late 9^th century, by who is not exactly certain as the founding is shrouded in legends that even historians have trouble accrediting who actually first settled this town.

The city of Kiev is distinctive and differentiates itself from the surrounding area. The right bank, which is the oldest part of the city, is full of hills, ravines and small rivers. The left bank has only been more developed in the 20^th century, and had artificial sand deposits and many dams to protect the city from flooding. The city is full of water and waterways with many streams from the Dnieper River, harbors and isles that are all located within the city limits. There are more than 400 bodies of open water located within the metropolitan area of Kiev. This means that for the visitor there is fun to be had at its 16 beaches and 35 recreational areas that are located near water.

Independence Square and Khreschatyk Street is the place to be a night during the summer months. The area becomes a party as thousands of people hit the local restaurants, clubs and cafes with outdoor seating areas, perfect for people watching. The area becomes so inundated with throngs of peoples that there is no car traffic allowed on weekends and holidays. The city takes pride in its surrounding regions and a wonderful representation of the local stores available from these regions are on display at Kiev’s farmer market, Besarabsky Market.  The market is located in the city center, and each residential region of the area is represented with at least one market stall.  You will find everything under the sun to buy from local fruits and vegetables to enjoy on an afternoon picnic to homemade sour cream, and even caviar. Another way to experience the local culture is to head to outside the city limits to the village of Pyrohiv.Here is located an outdoor museum called the Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine.The museum encompasses 1 whole square mile that has mini villages that represent the traditional rural regions of Ukraine.